DAILY- HOMILY

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Sunday, June 01, 2014

Monday, Seventh Week of Easter

Reading: Acts 19:1-8While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior of the country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples whom he asked, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?" They answered, "We have not even heard that anyone may receive the Holy Spirit." Paul then asked, "What kind of baptism have you received?" And they answered, "The baptism of John." Paul then explained, "John's baptism was for conversion, but he himself said they should believe in the one who was to come, and that one is Jesus." Upon hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Paul laid his hands on them and the Holy Spirit came down upon them; and they began to speak in tongues and to prophesy. There were about twelve of them in all. Paul went into the synagogue and for three months he preached and discussed there boldly, trying to convince them about the Kingdom of God.

Gospel: John 16: 29-33The disciples said to him, "Now you are speaking plainly and not in veiled language! Now we see that you know all things, even before we question you. Because of this we believe that you came from God." Jesus answered them, "You say that you believe! The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each one to his home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have told you all this, so that in me you may have peace. You will have trouble in the world; but, courage! I have overcome the world."

Reflection: The disciples who had the chance to journey and to live with Jesus had moments of confusion and difficulty in understanding the kind of life Jesus lived. However, in God's time, the disciples realized and understood some realities, and so they said: Now you are speaking plainly and not in veiled language." Jesus gradually revealed himself to his disciples. The disciples experienced moments of doubt and so there was the desire to be assured that Jesus came from God. We can understand what the disciples were feeling having lived with Jesus and accompanied him in his ministry. Later in Jesus' ministry, the disciples saw and experienced the vulnerability of Jesus to threats, to persecution, rejection and ridicule. They were seeing more the human suffering of Jesus while he was awaiting his death. They needed to be assured that Jesus really came from God. Jesus understood the feeling of the disciples. So Jesus had to assure the disciples: "The Father is with me...I have told you so you may have peace." In our world of so many 'unknowns' and 'accidents' and "unexpected," from whom do we get assurance? When troubled and in doubt, confused and in difficult situations, who gives us real peace? What words of assurance do we need more than these words of Jesus: "The Father is with me! ... have peace... I have overcome the world! Indeed, Jesus' Incarnation is a great assurance that God truly understands human condition. He is one with us in our struggles, and he comes to offer us assurance and peace. There is a story of a couple who had a child they loved very much. One day they decided to call for insurance agents in order to avail of insurance plans best for their child for his future. One agent assured the couple of an insurance "from the basket to the casket"; another agent offered "from delivery to cemetery," and the last one assured them of an insurance "from womb to tomb," The couple asked the agents if there are other plans they can offer. All three agents told the couple there is one best insurance plan than only God can give, "from incarnation to resurrection'. It is a simple story, but so assuring for those who believe that God, the loving Father, always wants the best for all of us, so He offers Jesus from his incarnation to his resurrection. May we find peace and assurance believing that Jesus is here with us!

Prayer Requests:We pray ...... for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn. ... for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.... for families who are in need of healing.... for world peace and reconciliation.

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.

Have a good day!

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